The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-28
THE BOYS CANNON.


saarl in Arthur's long hair.
"Sorry, my dear, but can't posi-
bly," returned Mr.. Loring, hurrying
on his overcoat. "Why not let them
go by themselves? You know where
Mr.. Shaw's shop is, don't you, Ar
thur?''
Eyes, oh, yes, papAr' cried Arthur,
coasting gayly down the ironing-board,
which formed a toboggan slide be-
tween the lounge and the floor.
"Well, of, with you, then! Ask Mr..
Shaw to cut your hair, and here's the
money to pay him. said their papa,
tossing each of the lads silver quar-
ter as he fastened away.
80 mamma, please give me and Ar
thur a dime to buy little cannon.
They have beauty cannons at the Five
Cent Store" cried Ken, bringing his
overshoes to his mamma. Arthur
could put on his own, but Arthur was
seven years old, while Ken was only
five.
''No. no; You can't have any more
playthings this month; so don't tease"
replied their mamma, with goodbye
kiss. Now, be my dear little boys,
and come straight home as soon as
your hair is cut. :"
Eyes, mamma" cried they in
breath, dashing away with Bruno at
their heels.
Around the corner they came upon
meddlesome Jimmy Jackson, shovel
ing path.
Hello, youngsters, where are you
going?' he cried.
ITO the barber's," responded Ar
thur, promptly, as if they were quite in
the habit of going there alone.
1--we got twenty-five cents to pay
Mr.. Shaw, and Arthur's got twenty-five
cents" volunteered Ken, displaying
his silver coin.
"Whew! that's big price! 1 can
show you a neat place where they'll
give you a cut for twenty cents" said
Jimmy, leaning on his shovel.
"But papa told us to go to Mr..
Shaw's," returned Arthur, wavering.
well, l s'poso he didn't know about
Stubs. Stubs is a new man-just
put out his sign. See it way down the
street-that striped pole?"
The boys gazed with admiration at
the imposing object.
"Oh, get your hair cut at Stubbs's;
would" urged Jimmy, mindful of
the half-pint of peanuts Mr.. Stubs had
promised him for every new customer
he should send. "Save you five cents
apiecer'
Give cents and five cents would
make whole diner whispered Arthur
to Ken, his eyes shining.
"Oh, no! and we could buy the little
cannon" cried Ken, frisking about in
circle.
You'd better hurry, or you'll
lose your chance" suggested artful
Jimmy.
This decided the question. No
longer hestating, the boys scampered
down the street. and entered the strange
BARRIERS shop. When they came out,
"all shaven and shorn," each carried
in triumph shining nickel; and they
darted off toward the five cent store in
the widest haste, as if the store were
built on wheels, that might trundle it
away at any moment. On arriving at
the enchanted palace of toys, they
spent the nickels without delay, and
became the joint owners of bright,
new cannon.
But as Arthur trudged homeward
with the long-desired treasure, his
sleepy little conscience began to
waken.
"S'pose papa'll care cause we didn't
mind him?" said he, aiming a snow
ball at lamp-post and hitting his
brother
"MammaW care" snarled Ken, hit
ting back. What you s'pect man.
mall say cause you bought that cam
! nonP"
you bought it your own self just as
much as did, Ken Loring. | shouldn't
have thought of it if it hadn't been for
YOU" retorted Arthur. blowing his
fingers, chilled by the cold metal.
Mamma said we mustn't have any
more playthings this month" pursued
Ken, with an mtimely rush of MEM
DRY. "She said for us to come straight
home, tool"
Oh, dear yes! The more Arthur
brooded over these truths, the longer
grew his face, till he wished the cam
non back on its counter.
''Sce here, Ken! | tell you what
let's do, cried he, as they approached
the house. Lets hide the old thing,
and not say we're got il"
"But | want to shoot!' walled Ken.
ooh, well, we'll dig it up tomorrow,
and play with it behind the stable,
said Arthur.
Whereupon Ken reluctantly consent
ed to the burial.